Tandem-wheeled riding device

Abstract

A tandem-wheeled riding device includes first and second riding wheel assemblies secured to a bottom surface of a platform for supporting a rider. At least one of the riding wheel assemblies is swivelly coupled to the platform to provide aggressive turning agility to the device. The device further includes at least two outrigger wheel assemblies coupled to the platform and biased toward the riding surface to improve stability of the riding device during sharp turns.

1. A tandem-wheeled riding device for transporting a rider over a riding surface, the riding device comprising:
 a platform having a top surface for supporting a rider thereupon, and a bottom surface opposite said top surface; 
 at least first and second riding wheel assemblies disposed on said bottom surface of said platform; and
 at least two outrigger wheel assemblies extending outwardly from said platform and coupled to said platform for movement relative to said platform, each said outrigger wheel assembly comprising an outrigger arm and an outrigger wheel disposed on a distal end thereof, each said outrigger arm biased in a direction toward the riding surface independently of other ones of said outrigger arms; 
 wherein said platform includes first and second lateral sides, and wherein at least two outrigger wheel assemblies are coupled to said platform on each lateral side. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The riding device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second riding wheel assemblies includes a wheel swively coupled to said platform to facilitate steering the riding device. 
     
     
       3. The riding device of  claim 1 , wherein said outrigger wheel assemblies are configured to engage the riding surface when said platform is articulated by a rider to steer the riding device into a turn. 
     
     
       4. The riding device of  claim 3 , wherein said outrigger wheel assemblies are configured to provide increasing resistance to deflection of said outrigger wheel assemblies in a direction toward said top surface of said platform when said platform is articulated to move one of said lateral sides in a direction closer to the riding surface. 
     
     
       5. The riding device of  claim 3 , wherein said outrigger wheel assemblies are configured to provide constant resistance to deflection of said outrigger wheel assemblies in a direction toward said top surface of said platform when said platform is articulated to move one of said lateral sides in a direction closer to the riding surface. 
     
     
       6. The riding device of  claim 1 , wherein said platform is configured to receive a rider in a recumbent position thereon. 
     
     
       7. The riding device of  claim 6 , further comprising a brake assembly coupled to said platform and configured to permit a rider to selectively control the speed of the riding device relative to the riding surface. 
     
     
       8. The riding device of  claim 1 , wherein each said outrigger wheel assembly comprises an arm member pivotally coupled to said platform, and an outrigger wheel disposed on a distal end of said arm member. 
     
     
       9. The riding device of  claim 8 , wherein each said outrigger wheel is pivotally coupled to a respective arm member for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said arm member. 
     
     
       10. A tandem-wheeled riding device for transporting a rider over a riding surface, the riding device comprising:
 a platform having a top surface for supporting a rider thereupon, and a bottom surface opposite said top surface; 
 at least first and second riding wheel assemblies disposed on said bottom surface of said platform and; 
 at least two outrigger wheel assemblies extending outwardly from said platform and coupled to said platform for movement relative to said platform, said outrigger wheel assembly assemblies biased in a direction toward the riding surface; 
 said platform including a longitudinal centerline, a leading end and a trailing end spaced apart along said longitudinal centerline, and opposing lateral sides spaced apart transverse to said longitudinal centerline; 
 said at least two outrigger wheel assemblies including a first pair of laterally opposed outrigger wheel assemblies each disposed on one of said lateral sides of said platform, and a second pair of laterally opposed outrigger wheel assemblies each disposed on one of said lateral sides of said platform and spaced from said first pair of outrigger wheel assemblies along said longitudinal centerline; and 
 said first pair of outrigger wheels are offset from said first riding wheel in a direction toward said trailing end. 
 
     
     
       11. The riding device of  claim 10 , wherein said second pair of outrigger wheel assemblies is offset from said second riding wheel in a direction toward said trailing end.